Virtual Bookworm

playing book club online

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Barren land + crazy family

Can we talk about the family for a bit?

Like Canada, I found myself wondering why the parents would choose to live in such remote and dangerous locations. There were several times in the book when they could have stayed in more fertile land, but each time they chose to move to the most drought-ridden, barren locations. Why? I can't relate.

And also, how does racism fit into these decisions?

And ALSO, it nearly killed me to see that photo of Bobo and Vanessa heading off to school. I was like, "Oh, that's a sweet picture," and then I was like, "Oh. Nice. Bobo's holding an Uzi."

And Nicola: What a character. Again, I can't relate.

Monday, April 24, 2006

First impressions

So, what does everyone think of Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight?

Here are my first impressions of the book:

1. Great opening paragraph--v. compelling.

2. I thought it was interesting that Fuller writes from the POV of her child self; she doesn't filter her memories through her adult consciousness.

3. Related to #2, she makes no apologies for racism (hers and others'), except for one passage late in the book.

4. I was so conscious of smell throughout this book, which is unusual for me. I don't generally pay much attention to setting, but I definitely noticed Fuller's discriptions of the smells and sights of Africa.

5. I wanted to know more about Bobo's family members, especially her sister.

How about y'all--what were your first impressions?

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Consider it started!

Go on with you, then! Consider this the official opening of comments/discussion for "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight".

Friday, April 21, 2006

Ready Set Go

Greetings Fellow Bookworms!

I am excited that this is working out!
It seems we all decided to go with the blog discussion through the comments section.
When shall we start the discussion of the current book?

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

A questionable suggestion (or a suggestive question?)

So now it would seem we need to figure out the "club" part of this baby--seeing as how we seem to have the "book" and "virtual" parts going...

Some options:
1) The book chooser puts up a post (schedule to be determined by us all) for a set of chapters, and we all comment on it for a set period of time, until the next post comes up. This would allow everyone to chime in as time allows, but would be somewhat less interactive.
2) We find a regular time when we can all "meet" via some sort of IM or chat and "discuss" the set chapters. This would have more of the club feel but would be more difficult to coordinate.
3) We all fly out to AJWP&HB's and drink margs in their hallway while discussing the set chapters. (Okay, so it isn't practical, but damn, it's my favored option.)

Votes? Or overriding opinions? Anyone? Anyone?
And another thought: Do we want to set this blog up for RSS feeds? That might also help keep us on our toes.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Bingo!

The one and only specific vote has been cast! I am glad somebody in this club can come to a decision because I obviously cannot (hence the three options). Oh, and no, I haven't read any of them but wanted to do when each first came out, then never got around to doing so.

So, ladies (are there any gents in this club, AJWP?), it's "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight". Yay!

I guess we need some sort of schedule or plan or something regarding how we want to break this down and handle discussions and so forth. Oh, and for future reference for the next book-picker, I found this groovy link o' book lists, which came in handy. (At first I thought it was some religious site --Christchurch?--if I'm going to be much use to anyone, I need to learn not just to read but to comprehend, eh?)

How long does everyone need to pick this puppy (!) up and get started? I have no idea how long it is.

Monday, April 03, 2006

How about...

So I figure we want something that probably isn't brand-spankin' new, so we can get it free at the library and not have the rest of the Hold line hot on our heels?

Here are some ideas:
Mr. Timothy--"Mr. Timothy Cratchit has just buried his father. He's also struggling to bury his past as a cripple and shed his financial ties to his benevolent "Uncle" Ebenezer by losing himself in the thick of London's underbelly. He boards at a brothel in exchange for teaching the mistress how to read and spends his nights dredging the Thames for dead bodies and the treasures in their pockets." "Timothy's life takes a sharp turn when he discovers the bodies of two dead girls, each seared with the same cruel brand on the upper arm. The sight of their horror-struck faces compels Timothy to become the protector of another young girl, the enigmatic Philomela. Spurred on by the unwavering enthusiasm of a street-smart, fast-talking homeless boy who calls himself Colin the Melodious, Timothy soon finds that he's on the trail of something far worse - and far more dangerous - than an ordinary killer."

Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight-- In Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight, Alexandra Fuller remembers her African childhood with visceral authenticity. Though it is a diary of an unruly life in an often inhospitable place, it is suffused with Fuller's endearing ability to find laughter, even when there is little to celebrate. Fuller's debut is unsentimental and unflinching but always captivating. In wry and sometimes hilarious prose, she stares down disaster and looks back with rage and love at the life of an extraordinary family in an extraordinary time.

Atonement--In this rich novel by the author of the Booker Prize-winning novel "Amsterdam, " a young girl unwittingly tells a tale that turns her family upside down. Brilliant and utterly enthralling in its depiction of childhood, love and war, England and class, "Atonement" is at its center a profound--and profoundly moving--exploration of shame and forgiveness, of atonement and the difficulty of absolution.

Thoughts?

library card in hand. . .

Oh, yay!! I'm so happy, 'cause you know I'm ALWAYS reading (while brushing my teeth, in the bath, on planes, trains, automobiles, etc). Re-reading and new books, it's all good. As for who goes first. . . shall we offer that distinction to the brilliant woman who came up with this online "bookblog"? How does everyone feel about that?